65 Comm. Ave
65 Commonwealth Avenue, Back Bay, Boston
© Meridian Realty Group LLC. All rights reserved.
65 Commonwealth Avenue has stood as a fixture of Boston’s Back Bay landscape for nearly a century. Occupying the prominent northeast corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Clarendon Street, its stately façade and understated grandeur reflect the architectural ambition, social history, and urban transformation that have defined one of the city’s most distinguished neighborhoods. Like so many landmarks of the Back Bay, 65 Commonwealth tells a story of reinvention, of changing styles, evolving ownership, and a remarkable ability to adapt to the needs of successive generations.
The origins of 65 Commonwealth Avenue date to the early twentieth century, a period when the Back Bay was undergoing significant transition. By the 1920s, many of the neighborhood’s original Gilded Age townhouses, once the exclusive homes of Boston’s merchant and industrial elite, were being redeveloped to suit modern urban living. In 1924, the 65 Commonwealth Avenue Trust, overseen by Richard deBlois Boardman and Gerald Dorr Boardman, purchased two adjoining residences, 65 Commonwealth and 261 Clarendon, which had been owned by the prominent Fiske family since 1895 (Boston Globe, 1924). Their vision was ambitious: to replace the aging townhouses with a modern cooperative apartment building that would combine luxury with convenience while retaining the neighborhood’s elegance and responding to a new era of residential demand.
Construction of the new building began in early 1925 under the direction of the architectural firm McLaughlin & Burr, known for their refined approach to residential design and their ability to harmonize new construction with the historic streetscapes of Boston’s core (Boston Globe, 1925). The structure, completed later that year, rose five stories above the tree-lined Commonwealth Avenue Mall and was built in the Georgian Revival style. This was a deliberate nod to the refined, symmetrical aesthetic popular in high-end residential architecture of the early twentieth century (Boston Herald, 1925). The building featured a red brick façade with classical detailing, tall windows, and a balanced cornice line that echoed the rhythm of the surrounding brownstones while signaling its own modernity.
The interior spaces reflected the tastes and expectations of Boston’s upper-middle class in the interwar period. Apartments were designed with gracious proportions and elegant details, including carved moldings, hardwood floors, marble fireplaces, and built-in bookcases (Boston Globe, 1925). Formal reception rooms with tall ceilings, double parlors, and dining rooms were complemented by more practical modern amenities such as central heating, elevator service, and on-site staff. These features distinguished 65 Commonwealth as one of Back Bay’s earliest examples of cooperative living, an increasingly popular housing model among Boston’s affluent families who sought the prestige of a Commonwealth Avenue address without the burdens of maintaining a single-family townhouse.
From the outset, the building attracted a distinguished roster of residents. Among the earliest were Jacob Frederick Brown, a leading wool merchant, and his wife Mariette Starr Brown, who had previously lived at 11 Commonwealth Avenue (Boston Globe, 1926). Another early resident was Alice Ranney Allen, widow of financier Thomas Allen Jr., whose family had long been associated with Boston’s social and philanthropic elite (Boston Herald, 1926). Perhaps the most prominent of the early residents was Abraham C. “Cap” Ratshesky, a co-founder of the United States Trust Company and a major figure in Massachusetts civic life, along with his wife Edith Shuman Ratshesky (Boston Globe, 1927). Ratshesky played a central role in organizing Massachusetts’s relief efforts following the catastrophic Halifax explosion of 1917, and Edith remained in residence at 65 Commonwealth until her death in 1950 (Boston Globe, 1950).
The decades that followed were marked by both continuity and change. In 1944, amid the economic shifts of World War II, Suffolk Savings Bank foreclosed on the building’s mortgage, and ownership passed to real estate investor Hyman Yaffe (Boston Globe, 1944). Three years later, in 1947, Back Bay Realty, Inc., under the leadership of Harold A. Rudnick, acquired the property (Boston Herald, 1947). The building’s reputation for exclusivity remained intact, and its units continued to attract prominent Bostonians, including Sidney R. Rabb, who would go on to serve as chairman of Stop & Shop (Boston Globe, 1949). By the mid-1960s, ownership had transferred to the Back Bay Realty Trust, jointly managed by Rudnick and Rabb, reflecting the increasingly institutional nature of property ownership in Boston’s most desirable neighborhoods (Boston Herald, 1965).
The 1970s brought significant transformation. On October 12, 1972, the trustees of the Back Bay Realty Trust dissolved the cooperative structure and converted 65 Commonwealth into a 15-unit condominium (Boston Globe, 1972). The decision mirrored a broader trend across Back Bay, where many older apartment buildings and large single-family homes were being reimagined as condominium residences in response to shifting demographics and the growing appeal of homeownership in urban settings. Ralph H. Doering Jr. acquired a 60 percent stake in the newly formed condominium, while Roy F. Littlehale Jr. held the remaining 40 percent (Boston Globe, 1972). The conversion retained the building’s essential architectural character while introducing more modern amenities and updated floor plans suited to contemporary living.
The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have seen 65 Commonwealth Avenue solidify its place as one of Back Bay’s most desirable boutique condominium buildings. Its Georgian Revival façade remains a defining feature of the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, and its interiors, though modernized, retain many of the original period details that connect the property to its 1920s origins. Amenities such as a live-in superintendent, elevator access, and professional management continue to distinguish the building in a competitive luxury market (Boston Herald, 1990).
Today, 65 Commonwealth offers a range of condominiums that blend historic charm with modern sophistication. Many units feature expansive living areas, fireplaces, high ceilings, and abundant natural light. Renovated kitchens with premium appliances, spa-like bathrooms, and custom millwork are common, while some residences include private terraces with sweeping views of the tree-lined Mall (Boston Globe, 2015). These features, combined with the building’s prime location just steps from Newbury Street’s boutiques, the Charles River Esplanade, and Boston’s leading cultural institutions, make it one of the city’s most sought-after addresses (Boston Globe, 2020).
The building’s enduring appeal is reflected in its market performance. In recent years, units at 65 Commonwealth have consistently commanded premium prices. In 2007, Unit 4A, a floor-through residence with period details and modern upgrades, sold for $2,140,000 (Boston Globe, 2007). In 2025, the corner penthouse Unit 8B, featuring three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and three exposures, was listed for $4,795,000 (Boston Herald, 2025). Other units, such as 5B, have been praised for their expansive single-floor layouts and views across the Mall, often achieving above-asking offers (Boston Globe, 2022).
What makes 65 Commonwealth remarkable is not merely its architecture or location, but its extraordinary capacity to evolve while remaining true to its original character. From its conception as a cooperative residence in the optimistic 1920s to its mid-century resilience amid economic uncertainty, from its transformation into luxury condominiums in the 1970s to its present status as a symbol of Back Bay prestige, the building has mirrored the broader social and economic currents shaping Boston itself. For buyers, it offers the rare opportunity to own a piece of the city’s living history, an address that connects past and present in every brick and molding. For sellers, it represents not just real estate, but legacy: a testament to Boston’s architectural heritage and the timeless appeal of Commonwealth Avenue.
Contact: MatthewArmstrong@MRGproperty.com
